Looking forward to Birmingham 2018: An interview with ACPGBI President, James Hill

In a series of interviews, we will be previewing this year’s ACPGBI annual meeting in Birmingham, 9-11 July. We talked to Mr James Hill, President of the ACPGBI, who highlighted some of the key sessions, presentations and speakers, as well as encouraging those with an interest in coloproctology to attend the meeting.

“The aim of this year’s ACPGBI meeting is to have a programme designed to appeal to everyone – from areas looking at standards of practice within our day-to-day colorectal lives to more controversial areas of clinical practice such as how we can improve the management of more advanced cases of colonic cancer,” he explained. “We will concentrate on whether we need to change current practice – for example in the case of parastomal hernias – and we will examine the current evidence and ask whether treatment paradigms need to change. The sessions will be a mixture day-to-day practice, evidence for best practice and current controversies and future developments.”

James Hill

As ever, the meeting will be representative of the multidisciplinary aspects of coloproctology. For example, the meeting will involve patients and patients’ groups and there will be a joint session with the Patient Liaison Group and The Dukes’ Club that will focus on how healthcare specialists should communicate risk to patients. In addition, there will be a multidisciplinary symposium on Advanced Cancer Symposium with presentations by colorectal surgeons and oncologists. There will also be the Pelvic Floor symposium, the Perioperative Care Symposium, the ASGBI Emergency Surgery Session and the Nurses’ Symposium.

“We are delighted to announce that we 50 complimentary spaces available to members of the Association of Coloproctology Nurses at this year’s meeting, so we really would like as many nurses to attend as possible,” he added. “In addition, we have an excellent programme for trainees as part of the Dukes’ Day for the trainees including the Dukes’ Club Research Session, the Dukes’ Club Interactive Session, trainee presentations and the BJS Prize session, presentations from the travelling fellows, a session on International Training and a session called - ‘It’s a number’s game’ - looking at training in colonoscopy. We will also have a presentation on balancing emergency surgical cover with gaining enough experience on the sub-specialty of the trainees’ choice. There is plenty in the programme for the trainees both in terms of presentations and topics focused on trying to help them with their training in colorectal surgery.”

Mr Hill said that one of the highlights of the meeting will be the keynote presentations, which will include a talk by David Nott - probably the world’s most experienced surgeon in practicing trauma surgery in some of the most hostile conflicts and environments on the planet. Also from the UK, Malcolm Dunlop will give the Goligher Lecture and assess Genomics in Colorectal Cancer, Dion Morton will discuss the benefits of randomised trials, Mr Nigel Scott will provide a keynote presentation on the Communication of Risk, and Angus Watson will organise a session on the influence of information technology on practice and how it can be harnessed to improve research, as well as outcomes for patients.

From further afield, Jan Lambrecht from Norway will discuss parastomal hernias, John Monson from the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute will give this year’s BJS Lecture on Rectal Cancer Surgery and Pieter Tanis from Amsterdam will highlight the merits of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the Advanced Cancer Symposium.

There will also be presentations on new techniques for ileocecal Crohn's disease, an update on medical care, pre-operative exercise and training, as well as emergency service and video sessions, and Consultants’ Corner.

“The ACPGBI annual meeting is an excellent opportunity for delegates to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. It is a chance for us all to get together and discuss current problems in our speciality, and perhaps, come up with some solutions. Birmingham is an excellent place for a meeting – the city has good transportation links, great restaurants and bars and the venue is first class,” concluded Mr Hill. “The ACPGBI is a vibrant association, but it is only as strong as it’s members and we do need them to support this meeting. I would encourage everyone to register by 20th April to take advantage of the early bird rates and those who do so will find the meeting a very rewarding experience.”

ACPGBI Annual Meeting information

Registration for the meeting is now open! To register please click here